I created an identity piece to represent Black History Month for the Home Group's Multicultural group. My goal was to design a visually striking symbol that pays tribute to the rich history, diverse cultures, inspiring stories, and vibrant colours associated with this important month.
I developed a unique logo using colours inspired by Black cultures, including the vivid hues of Africa and the Caribbean. To add cultural authenticity, I used a custom font embellished with cultural symbols and themes. I made inclusivity a top priority by creating three versatile characters, one of which was gender-fluid, to ensure they could represent individuals from all walks of life.
Home Group's marketing team proudly showcased the logo in their marketing materials during Black History Month. They used it in their social media posts, internal presentations, documents, and even as company screensavers to celebrate the occasion.
Research and Design Process
Mood Board:
I created a mood board to explore different aspects of Black culture that inspired my designs. The board included influences from African and Caribbean textiles, patterns, vibrant colours, hairstyles, clothing/fashion, traditions, and more. These were shown through a collection of photos and vector art. This carefully selected assortment was crucial in shaping the development of the characters for my logo designs.
I created a mood board to explore different aspects of Black culture that inspired my designs. The board included influences from African and Caribbean textiles, patterns, vibrant colours, hairstyles, clothing/fashion, traditions, and more. These were shown through a collection of photos and vector art. This carefully selected assortment was crucial in shaping the development of the characters for my logo designs.
Font Face:
I created a special font by mixing two different typefaces, Flegrei Regular and HWT Mardell Regular. These fonts had bold and playful styles, which added a lively touch to my project. To give the font an authentic and meaningful feel, I included cultural symbols and patterns in the design. I also used bright colours inspired by African and Caribbean cultures to make the font visually striking and relevant to the project's themes.
I created a special font by mixing two different typefaces, Flegrei Regular and HWT Mardell Regular. These fonts had bold and playful styles, which added a lively touch to my project. To give the font an authentic and meaningful feel, I included cultural symbols and patterns in the design. I also used bright colours inspired by African and Caribbean cultures to make the font visually striking and relevant to the project's themes.
Pattern Design:
I created a pattern that was influenced by my research into African and Caribbean culture and by my mood board. I took inspiration from traditional outfits, designs, and patterns, exploring their vibrant and diverse aesthetics. Using shapes like circles, triangles, squares, and diamonds, I crafted a fun and lively pattern. This unique pattern was then applied to my 'King' character, reflecting the rich culture and artistic heritage of black communities.
I created a pattern that was influenced by my research into African and Caribbean culture and by my mood board. I took inspiration from traditional outfits, designs, and patterns, exploring their vibrant and diverse aesthetics. Using shapes like circles, triangles, squares, and diamonds, I crafted a fun and lively pattern. This unique pattern was then applied to my 'King' character, reflecting the rich culture and artistic heritage of black communities.
Character Design:
Character 1: Lady of Culture
I created the female character "Lady of Culture" inspired by African and Caribbean patterns, colours, and fashion. She represents the rich heritage of Black culture, showcasing vibrant elements in her style. I sketched her in Procreate and then used Adobe Illustrator for vectorisation.
Character 1: Lady of Culture
I created the female character "Lady of Culture" inspired by African and Caribbean patterns, colours, and fashion. She represents the rich heritage of Black culture, showcasing vibrant elements in her style. I sketched her in Procreate and then used Adobe Illustrator for vectorisation.
Sketch of lady
Vector version
Character 2: King
I wanted to create a male character that embodies the vibrant and lively colors of African and Caribbean clothing, along with their distinct hairstyles. The goal was to make a powerful and easily recognisable statement with this character, reflecting the fun and dynamic nature of the inspiration. "King" fits well with all of these attributes as he embodies and embraces these in his wake.
I wanted to create a male character that embodies the vibrant and lively colors of African and Caribbean clothing, along with their distinct hairstyles. The goal was to make a powerful and easily recognisable statement with this character, reflecting the fun and dynamic nature of the inspiration. "King" fits well with all of these attributes as he embodies and embraces these in his wake.
Character 3: Huru
I wanted to create a gender-fluid character to symbolise freedom. "Huru" is a Swahili word meaning "free," often used to express independence and liberation from constraints. It's a fitting name for a character that represents fluidity and freedom from traditional gender norms. Creating this character was particularly meaningful to me because of its symbolic significance.
I wanted to create a gender-fluid character to symbolise freedom. "Huru" is a Swahili word meaning "free," often used to express independence and liberation from constraints. It's a fitting name for a character that represents fluidity and freedom from traditional gender norms. Creating this character was particularly meaningful to me because of its symbolic significance.
